Hypodermic case



June 12, 1934. E. E. BURK HYPODERMIC CASE Filed March 22, 1932 Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES HYPODERMIC CASE Earl Elihu Burk, Los Angeles, Calif. Application March 22, 1932, Serial No. 600,452 1 Claim. (01. 167-3) My invention relates to improvements in hypodermic cases containing therein special compartments for equipment needed for giving hypodermic injections, with a built-in sterilizing unit.

The object of the improvement is first to provide a case complete in itself for carrying equipment needed in giving hypodermic injections; and second, within said case, to provide means for rapidly sterilizing equipment and supplies needing sterilization prior to their use.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the entire case showing the top view with the case open.

Figure 2 shows the end view with the lid closed.

Figure 3 shows the end view disclosing structure of valve.

Figure 4 shows air inlet or overflow valve.

Referring to Figure 1:Lid 5 is hinged to case 6 at points 7-l0. The major portion of case consists of rectangular container extending to points 71112-13; cap for filling at 19; fuel control valve 3; baflie plate 14; feed pipe 15; burner 16; sterilizing pan 17 air inlet or overflow valve 4; space for hypo and needles 20; tray 21; handle 22; space for tube of tablets 23; cotton container 18.

Referring to Figure 2:end view of filling cap 19; control valve 3; end of burner 16; end view of sterilizing pan 17.

Referring to Figure 3:Represents vertical section thru control valve 3; baffle plate 14; end view of burner 16 sterilizing pan 17.

Referring to Figure 4:Represents vertical section thru air inlet or overflow valve 4; plunger 24; valve 25; chamber 26; aperture 27.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the different views.

The base 7-8910 represents the main portion of the case, of which the fuel container represents the portion extending to points 7-l1- 12l3. In the forward portion of fuel container adjacent to valve 3 is bafile plate 14; needle valve 3 is in relation with and controls flow in feed pipe 15, which is connected with burner 16 and which burner is beneath pan 17; cotton container 18 extends full depth of case; Space 20 also extends full depth of case and is for holding hypo and needles and contains tray 21 for removing said articles and is manipulated by handle.

Plunger 24 in Figure 4 is in contact and is controlled by pressure of lid 5 in such a manner that when closed, valve 25 is also closed; when open; valve 25 is also open allowing either air to enter container 7'111213, or allow fuel to overflow thru aperture 25 to chamber 26.

In operation of the present invention the liquid fuel container is filled and the various devices are installed for use. After the container is filled the lid 5 may be closed down upon it and this will form a contact with the plunger 24- which will act to hold the valve 25 in a closed position and will seal the liquid container so that its contents may not accidentally spill or be lost by evaporation.

When it is desired to use the emergency kit the lid 5 is raised. This will remove the pressure from the plunger 24 allowing the valve 25 to open. When this opens the air seal is broken to the liquid container so that the liquid may readily flow from the container after manipulation of the needle valve structure 3. It may also occur that the heat developed by the burner 16 will cause the liquid fuel to expand within the container in which instance the opening of valve 25 will provide a vent so that the material may overflow into the surrounding chamber 26 and may re-fiow through the valve opening into the fuel container when it has cooled down. The needle valve may be opened and this will permit the liquid fuel to flow through the pipe 15 and into the burner 16. The burner is preferably provided with some sort of non-inflammable fibrous material which will act as a wick for the highly volatile fuel. The fuel may then be ignited by a match and the sterilizing pan 17 placed in position. Attention is directed to the fact that this pan is removable from its operative position and that it is formed with a clip which will fit over the lip of the baflie wall 14 and support the sterilizing pan in a suitable position above the burner 16. The tray 21 may then be removed, thus giving access to the hypodermic syringe, its needle, and to tablets to be made into solution for use with the instrument. Due to the fact that the sterilizing pan is relatively small the the hypodermic needle may be placed within a small quantity of water within the pan and will be readily sterilized since the amount of water in the pan can be quickly heated. After this has been done the pan may be used to receive an amount of water and one of the hypodermic tablets so that the tablet may readily dissolve in the water. The solution will be properly heated for immediate use.

After the device has been used the pan 17 may be instantly removed from its position over the burner so that it can be cleansed and placed in position for further operation. The various 2 parts of the structure, including the needles may be wiped or swabbed with cotton carried in the container 18. The kit may then be repacked for future use, and when the lid 5 is folded down upon it and fastened by a sutable clasp the valve 25 will be closed, after which the device may be placed in the physicians pocket or in his satchel for further emergency use.

It will thus be seen that the device here shown comprises a decidedly simple and compact container within which a hypodermic syringe, needles, and injection materials may be conveniently packed and which device further provides a supply of fuel and a fuel burner by which a sterilization pan and its contents may be instantly heated for emergency use and thus eliminating the necessity of obtaining hot .water or,v

of sterilizing the hypodermic instruments at some point remote from the place of intended use, and by means which are slow and cumbersome, as compared with the structure the use of which is here shown and which is instantly ready for operation and will provide all of the accommodations required by a physician in administering a hypodermic injection.

I am aware that prior to my invention means were available for the sterilization of hypo, needle and water in connection with the use of hypo needle and syringe, and I do not claim anything new in respect to the principles of sterilization, but I do claim a combination in a case of compartments for carrying equipment needed for hypodermic injections, and other equipment where sterilization is required, with a built-in sterilizing unit.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention as now known to me, it will be understood that various changes may be made in combination, construction, and arrangement of parts by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

I claim:

A surgical kit comprising a rectangular boxlike structure provided with a rectangular cover therefor, a fuel compartment occupying a portion of said box, a hypodermic needle compartment extending along one side of said fuel compartment within the box, a fuel burner extending along another side of the fuel compartment within the box, valve means for controlling the flow of fluid from the fuel compartment to the burner, a sterilization pan supported over the burner, and means for automatically creating an air vent in the fuel compartment when the lid is removed from its enclosing position.

E. E. BURK. 

